John Bowers Jr.

BRISTOL, Va. – John W. "Tobe" Bowers Jr., age 75, went to be with his Lord and Savior Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006, after a valiant battle with cancer.
Tobe was a lifelong resident of the Wallace Community in Washington County, Va., and had worked most of his life as a farmer and master tile setter, and had hauled agricultural lime and fertilizer throughout Southwest Virginia. He was a member of Maple Grove Presbyterian Church and a member of the York Lodge 12 A.F. & A.M. for more than 50 years.
Tobe was the son of the late John W. Bowers Sr. and Pearl Blevins Bowers. He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Eva Lee Rosenbalm Bowers; two half-brothers, Edgar Lee Bowers and James C. Bowers; and four half-sisters, Daisy Harley, Pearl Harley, Nellie Anderson and Catherine Strouth.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Janelle Tyree Bowers; four daughters, Mrs. Beverly (Clarence) Wilson Jr. of Kingsport and Mrs. Toby (Don) Jordan, Mrs. Jackie (Bobby) Williams and Mrs. Rosie (Luke) Roberts, all of Bristol Virginia; three brothers, Jack Bowers, Ralph Bowers and E.H. Bowers, all of Abingdon; five sisters, Margaret Nash, Betty Watson, Faye Roark and Ann Roark, all of Bristol, and Carolyn Thomlinson of Blountville; one half-brother, W.R. Bowers of Bristol; two half-sisters, Ethel Dickenson of Bristol and Eva Moore of Smyrna, Tenn.; seven grandchildren, Elizabeth J. Wells of Abingdon and Jaime Williams, Lucas Jordan, Jessica Williams, Jill Williams, Nathan Roberts and Laura Roberts all of Bristol; and two step-grandchildren, Donnie Jordan of Madisonville, Tenn., and Michael Jordan of Knoxville. He is also survived by several cousins, nieces and nephews.
The funeral service for John W. "Tobe" Bowers Jr. will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, 2006, in the Maple Grove Presbyterian Church with Mr. Stephen Talbert, CLP, officiating. The burial service will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery with Masonic services by the York Lodge 12 A.F. & A. M. The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1, at the York Lodge No. 12 Fellowship Hall, located on Black Hollow Road, Abingdon (Black Hollow roads turns by Central Machine Shop on Wyndale Road).
Pallbearers will be Lucas Jordan, Nathan Roberts, Donnie Jordan, Adam Wilson, Mark McCracken, Garland Nash, Bruce Tyree and Greg Roark. Honorary pallbearers will be Buddy Parris, Clarence Stevens, Herman Bostic, Carrroll Young, Billy D. Lester, Jerry Dunn, Robert Dunn, Tim Alderman, James Tate, Paul Tate, David Wilson, Elwood Cretsinger, Freddie Mullins, Martin Houser Jr., members of York Lodge No. 12 A.F. & A. M., Dr. Tom Johnson, Dr. Thomas Boeve and Dr. Emily DeBord.
Contributions as gestures of remembrance for Tobe may be sent to Cancer Outreach Foundation, 206 Abingdon Place, Abingdon, VA 24211; or the American Lung Association of Virginia, P.O. Box 1249, Abingdon, VA 24212. All flower memorials are requested to be taken to the York Lodge for delivery. Those wishing to send memories or messages of sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com.
The Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service is serving the family of Mr. John W. "Tobe" Bowers Jr.